A pulse oximeter is one of the most common and convenient medical health devices nowadays that anyone could use anywhere, anytime. Thus, it is an effective method of measuring the blood-oxygen saturation and pulse rate.
It is said that the original pulse oximeter was developed since 1935; it is just a two-wavelength ear saturation meter with red and green filters. This device only measures O2 saturation until it later switched to red and infrared filters. In 1949, some scientist added a pressure capsule to squeeze the blood out of the ear thus, this method is not used clinically because it is hard to implement. Therefore, in 1964, it appears an eight wavelength of light which is absolutely used to read ear oximeter. It is used usually in laboratories due to its size and cost.
The pulse oximeter was developed in 1974 using the ratio of red to infrared light absorption of pulsating components, then it is introduce commercialized in 1981. During that time, it focused mainly on the respiratory care and later on used in operating rooms to monitor oxygen levels. The introduction of oximeter allows continuous measure of patient's oxygenation, through this non-invasive measure, practice of anesthesia improve patient safety.
Operating rooms in 1987 use oximeter for their standard care monitoring, this usage of device rapidly spread throughout hospitals from recovery rooms to various intensive care units. Pulse oximeter device also particular in neonatal units since newly child born do not thrive for inadequate oxygenation; thus, they are blinded with too much oxygen.
In 1995, oximeters could measure not only the pulse rate but also patients' motion and low perfusion which are advisable for those who have sleep disorders. During the development of oximeter, there also appear some portable and in home oximeter devices that are useful for those who need to measure their oxygen saturation and determine their pulse rate.
The latest involvement of oximeter is in 2009, when the first Bluetooth-enable fingertip pulse oximeter was introduced. It enables medical practitioners to monitor patient's pulses and oxygen saturation levels even at distance. It also allows patient to monitor their own health through online access for their health records and data.
Because of the simplicity and speed of oximeter, they are usually of critical importance in emergency medicine and are also very useful for patients with respiratory and cardiac problems; some portable pulse oximeter devices employ software that registers a patient's blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate.
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